Earlier, when she called Ruan Jianguo, it wasnât his office phone but his mobile number that she dialed. However, a woman answered, which meant the mobile phone was really with a woman. Such a private thing being with a woman, Ruan Jiaojiao couldnât help but overthink.
Ruan Hao heard the displeasure in Ruan Jiaojiaoâs words, pondered for a few seconds, then gently coaxed her under the surprised gaze of those around him, "Brother will check the details later, donât worry, okay?"
"Alright then." Ruan Jiaojiao was soothed by his gentle voice, temporarily setting aside the issue: "So, big brother, are you coming home tonight? Tomorrow weâll go to Grandpaâs together?"
"Okay." Ruan Hao still responded in a gentle manner.
"Then you get busy, big brother. I wonât disturb you." Ruan Jiaojiaoâs tone became slightly uncontrollably cheerful.
After hanging up the phone, Ruan Jiaojiao decided to just trust Ruan Jianguo for now. She felt that given his character, it was unlikely he would find someone so soon after the divorce. Moreover, she could tell that even though they were divorced, her mom was definitely still the person he loved the most. Otherwise, he wouldnât always reach out to ask about her and inquire about Shu Jiaoâs recent activities.
Around nine oâclock in the evening, after watching TV with the Ruanlin Family, Ruan Jiaojiao was about to go to bed but unexpectedly received a call from an unfamiliar number when she lay down.
She hesitated for a few seconds before answering.
Then she heard Ruan Jianguoâs voice, "Sweetie, itâs Dad."
"Dad?" Ruan Jiaojiao was suspicious, pulling the phone away to look at it again. It was indeed an unknown number: "Whose number is this?"
"I got it today temporarily." Ruan Jianguo replied with a smile, saying, "Tomorrow youâre going to your grandpaâs, right? Dad prepared a birthday gift for your grandpa. Itâs in the second drawer of our desk at home. Could you take it for me?"
"Dad, why did you change your number? What happened to the old one?" Ruan Jiaojiao asked, only caring about this issue.
"That one... I donât need it anymore. Iâll use this one from now on." Ruan Jianguo stammered.
"Why?"
"Sweetie." Ruan Jianguo hesitated, looking like he didnât quite know how to explain.
Ruan Jiaojiao listened to his halting, stuttering words, feeling somewhat chilled. Could it be that he really found her a stepmother?!
Ruan Jiaojiao fell silent.
The breathing of the father and daughter echoed in each otherâs ears. Ruan Jianguo sensed Ruan Jiaojiaoâs silence and asked her, "Sweetie, why arenât you talking?" Because he had often been away from home this year, every time they called, the father and daughter had endless things to talk about. For Ruan Jianguo, who was far away, the chattering of his daughter was undoubtedly the only motivation to keep going.
But now that Ruan Jiaojiao suddenly became uncommunicative, he found it very strange.
Hearing his question, Ruan Jiaojiao didnât hide anything, and with a hint of emotion, she questioned, "Dad, did you change your secretary? Did you leave your old phone at the hotel? A stranger answered your call. Didnât she tell you that I called?"
Faced with Ruan Jiaojiaoâs series of questions, Ruan Jianguo was momentarily stunned. After collecting himself, he immediately explained anxiously, "Sweetie, donât misunderstand. Dad didnât change secretaries. That secretary was forced on me by a partner, and I didnât want her. That phone... was soiled, so I stopped using it. Iâll be using this one from now on."